Serbia & Mont: Jevric, N.Djordevic (Koroman 42), Gavrancic, Krstajic, Dragutinovic, Stankovic, Duljaj, Nadj, P.Djordjevic, Kezman (Ljuboja 65), Milosevic (Jigic 45).

Holland: Van Der Sar, Heitinga, Ooijer, Mathijsen (Boulahrouz 86), Van Bronckhurst, Cocu, Van Bommel (Landzaat 60), Schneider, Van Persie, Van Nistelrooy (Kuyt 69), Robben.

This was another tough, competitive game in the Group of Death. Holland took the spoils after dominating the first half but look unlikely winners to me on this initial showing. Going forward they were excellent but they look brittle at the back and will find it difficult to contain the sides that do have strikers.

Serbia were badly let down in that department here.

There was little rhythm to the game in the early stages as Serbia sat deep and tried to frustrate Holland and the German referee went around happily blowing his whistle whether there had been an offence or not.

The play had been almost exclusively in the Serbia half but it was they who managed the first decent chance. P.Djordjevic made his way to the byeline and pulled back an inviting ball that Kezman and Milosevic went for together and contrived to fluff the opening.

Djordjevic had looked somewhat clumsy in going past Heitinga but he would prove awkward to stop when running with the ball throughout.

A smart back heel by Stankovic then had Milosevic running into the area but when he tried to pass the ball into the net it ended up simply as a back pass.

The major outlet for Holland in the opening quarter of an hour had been Robben on the left and he looked to have the beating of N.Djordjevic with something to spare.

As Serbia began to defend higher up the pitch the winger flew onto a through ball from Van Bommel only to be flagged offside when clear. The decision was sound but it provided a warning for the Serbs that they patently failed to heed.

Within a couple of minutes a simple first time flick from Van Persie sent Robben striding into half a field of open space and there was no catching him. Gavrancic thought about it but then let him go and the only question was whether the winger would finish.

He did so with some aplomb, shooting confidently past Jevric on the run.

The goal inspired the Dutch and badly knocked S&M and the rest of the half was a virtual procession towards Serbia's goal. In general the source of danger continued to be Robben.

He forced Jevric into a spectacular save with a fierce drive and later on would send a low cross shot inches wide after cutting inside onto his right foot with only a touch needed in the centre for it to have been a goal.

It was all too easy in midfield for the Dutch as they leisurely picked their passes and found their dangerman with ridiculous ease from any distance.

Their defence did not look quite so convincing, however, and on the odd occasions Serbia did get forward there were signs of hope for them.

Dragutinovic forged forward from left back to send in a cross that Milosevic flicked over at the near post and Kezman headed wide at the far post from a good centre by P.Djordjevic.

Van Persie, generally quiet, got in front of his marker at the near post to head straight at the keeper from a Cocu centre while Milosevic sent in an instant drive at the other end after a botched clearance landed at his feet 20 yards out.

The effort was more or less straight at Van Der Sar but was not fielded completely cleanly.

Even before half time Serbia decided something had to be done to curb Robben and the hapless N.Djordjevic was hauled off to be replaced by the midfielder Koroman. Duljaj moved out of the midfield to fill in at right back.

The sub immediately got himself involved in the game with a nice dribble away from two challengers to set up a good move that was wasted by Stankovic's poor centre. Then he unleashed a powerful shot that was well off target. It was better than what had preceded it from Serbia's point of view.

Half Time: Serbia & Montenegro 0 Holand 1

The Serbs made another change at half time with the giant Jigic replacing Milosevic. It would be interesting to know whether Milosevic was injured.

Although he had hardly been great he had certainly offered more than Kezman and his replacement would turn out to be absolutely dreadful.

The other sub, Koroman, continued to impress, however. His forceful running won his side a corner which was allowed to bounce right across the face of goal by the Dutch defence. It was the second time they had not dealt with a routine corner.

Robben linked with Van Nistelrooy to go storming through the middle but saw his eventual shot blocked. It highlighted how much trouble the Serbs were having picking Robben up, however. He had needed three touches to get the ball under control and be turned facing their goal but still no-one had been close enough to challenge until he was in full flight.

Schneider, who had been the most impressive of the Dutch midfield three, sent in a dangerous free kick that seemed to be heading for a host of unmarked oprange shirts but Robben actually managed to clear it, unaware of those better placed behind him.

From another set piece Van Nistelrooy gained his one sight of goal when Schneider's drilled ball into the near post located him. The keeper blocked his close range flick and recovered to get to the looping rebound ahead of the Manchester United striker.

In truth Van Nistelrooy had looked lethargic in an otherwise slick Dutch attack and would soon be withdrawn.

Koroman was continuing to cause problems and was winning his side several free kicks in dangerous positions. Unfortunately these were being wasted by wretched delivery and Koroman himself let himself down badly by twice demanding yellow cards for the players who had fouled him.

On the first occasion his opponent saw yellow but on the second he got one himself. It was one of the referees' better decisions.

Serbia were now looking the stronger outfit but could find no quality in the last third. Despite having a forward taller than Peter Crouch they were finding it impossible to land one on his head although he looked a difficult man to pick out. He was immobile to a painful degree and seemed to have no awareness of where to take up position.

Koroman cut in from the right to bang in a low left footer and van Der Sar needed to produce a decent save as the ridiculous ball began swerving for no apparent reason.

Zigic's lack of mobility and awareness was exposed as he awkwardly followed the path of a cute lay off from Koroman deep inside the box but made no move to trap it or get in a shot.

With just over ten minutes to go it looked as though Serbia might be able to push on and nick a draw but they found it hard to raise that final effort in the demanding conditions and Holland were generally the more likely scorers late on a sthey broke at the stretched defence on a number of occasions.

Robben sent a reverse drive wide and Van Persie curved a wicked low free kick right across the face of goal which scraped the far post. How no-one had made contact with it as it travelled across the crowded box remained a mystery.

Van Der Sar was now, bizarrely, struggling with cramp but Serbia were unable to test him seriously. Koroman whipped in a lovely centre from the right but there was no-one in the middle attacking it.

Then the best Serbian move of the game ended with the ball spinning away from Koromaqn inside the box from Zigic's flick.

At the other end there was time for Robben to send another shot marginally wide of the post from another counter attack but the Dutch had done enough.

Not a great game but a good one and Holland will be delighted to have a win in what promises to be an arduous group. They have work still to do to get through.

Serbia are right up against it after their defeat.

Serbia & Montenegro 0 Holland 1

Serbia & Mont: Jevric 7, N.Djordjevic 1 (Koroman 8), Gavrancic 5, Krstajic 7, Dragutinovic 7, Stankovic 5, Duljaj 6, Nadj 3, P.Djordjevic 7, Kezman 3 (Ljuboja 7), Milosevic 5 (Jigic 3).

Holland: Van Der Sar 6, Heitinga 6, Ooijer 6, Mathijsen 6, Van Bronckhurst 5, Cocu 6, Van Bommel 6 (Landzaat 3), Schneider 8, Van Persie 7, Van Nistelrooy 5 (Kuyt 5), Robben 9

Referee: M.Merk (Germany) 2
This guy was really bad. He blew constantly and penalised the most trivial of challenges and contacts. He managed to get in the way on several occasions and was once pushed to the ground by a Serbian who wanted to pass.
Made a fool of himself by giving a free kick against Kezman for an overhead kick, thereby rendering his one useful contribution worthless.

Good:
Arjen Robben was pacy, strong and direct. He caused problems all afternoon and even stayed on his feet for the goal. Good stuff.

Bad:
The Sebian right back. His mark says it all. Didn't get much help from his mates but they probably all hate him if this performance was anything to go by.

Ugly:
Koroman demanding cards when anyone caught him. It got him booked in the end and spoiled an otherwise impressive contribution as substitute.